Henry David Thoreau once commented “Men have become the tools of their tools.”, which is a negative view towards the impact technology can have on human beings. Technology does makes our life faster and better, however, it may trap men more reliable and dependent.
Jamie Wilson wrote her blog “To Blog or Not to Blog“, introducing her teaching experience in the application of blogging in teaching writing. I do have some similar concerns about blogging teaching. Firstly, I have to admit blogging is an endeavor to bridge among students and teachers. And I have applied it to my English teaching in China. I encouraged every student to comment on their classmates’ writing. It was extremely effective for those who were too shy to speak English in the public, as they may be blocked by the vocabularies and expressions in the process of second language learning, while commenting in the blog may somehow release their anxiety and shyness. Secondly, every student likes the interaction among one another. One has commented on his classmate’s writing, while another one proposes a different idea, through which they are all sparkled.
The biggest concern I have had until now, is ” how to avoid some students lurking around”? It is common that there are always someone like to lurk around in the blog. They do read others’ blog, but seldom do they actively participate in the blogging. Or, they just comment little on their classmates’ blogs, which is very much obviously they gain little from the interaction in blogging.
Anyway, I do hope this course could take me to the blogging adventures in wonderland. By far, it does, by reading Dr. Tryon’s lectures and stimulated by my classmates’ blogs.
leisunkaren 